Florence who was adopted by Stacy and Ida Thompson father’s birth place is unknown, her mother was born in Ohio.
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Another name for Florence was Almira Louise Udell.5148
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Letter: from Hugh Porter, Attorney at Law in Chicago to Manistee Co. Clerk, 9 Feb 1959 to Emily Iverson, Deputy County Clerk of Manistee Co., MI

Dear Miss Iverson,

I have your brief letter in re the birth certificate desired of the above birth. I have known the person in question for nearly 40 years and know that she is the child of William and Mary Udell but to furnish proof of that fact might be a problem as my client does not have any living relatives who knew her
father and mother.

She was born, Myra Louise Udell, but at the age of 4 or 5 years she was adopted by Stacy C. Thompson and his wife Ida May Thompson and carried the name of Florence Marie Thompson until about 13 years of age when she was re-adopted by her mother, then a widow and probably again carried the name of Udell. Both of these adoptions took place in Manistee and it is quite possible that those proceedings would establish the facts of her birth and true name. Would it be possible to check these adoptions and advise with what results?

I am very well aware of the fact that 65 years ago, all birth recordings in Michigan and Illinois and for that matter in the other 46 States was very incomplete and indefinite, but you and I are not to blame for that.

My client is in destitute circumstances and should be given old age assistance, and I am doing this work for her without compensation and I would very much appreciate any help you may be able to give.

I do feel that these adoptions might throw considerable light on establishing this lady's name and identification.

Very truly yours, Hugh R. Porter5149
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Letter: from Manistee Judge of Probate to Hugh Porter, Attorney at Law, 11 Feb 1959. In re: UDELL, born to Edward and Eliza May Udell

Dear Sir:

Your letter of February 9th addressed to Emily Iverson, Deputy County Clerk, has been brought to our Court for attention.

Examination of our records show that under date of August 7th, 1897, that Stacy C. Thompson and Ida M. Thompson did declare that Almira Louise Udell, minor child of Edwin R. Udell and Eliza May Udell, was of the age of four years on the 11th of August, 1897, and was adopted by them; that henceforth the child should bear the name of Florence Marie Thompson.

The order for adoption was signed by the Court on the 7th day of August, 1897. The Order was made by the Honorable John H. Grant, the then Judge of Probate of this County.

We have further record showing application for adoption of Florence Marie Thompson by Garrett L. Johnson and Eliza May Johnson showing that the said Florence Marie Thompson was the minor child of Stacy C. Thompson and Ida M. Thompson, deceased, by adoption. The child was at that time thirteen years of age on the 11th day of August, 1906, and the application was filed on the 13th day of August, 1906.

The order for adoption and change of name was signed on the 27th day of August, 1906, by the Honorable John H. Grant, the then Judge of Probate, changing the name of said child from Florence Marie Thompson to Florence Marie Johnson.

If these records will be of any help to your client, photostatic copies of the same could be made and forwarded to you. These photostatic copies would cost $1.00 a page, and would probably be $4.00 covering the application for adoption and the order in each case.

We note in your letter that the person whose birth record you seek to secure was adopted by her mother, then a widow, when she was thirteen years of age. This does not correspond with our records as we have indicated by the statement made to you, and naturally the person would not be carrying the
name Udell, but would rather be carrying the name Johnson.

If this would be of assistance to you, kindly advise us.

Very truly yours,

(no signature on this photocopy)

Judge of Probate5150